Valmiki Ramayana 2.71.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 9

भरतस्य अयोध्याप्रत्यागमनम्

Bharata’s Return Journey and the Distant Sight of Ayodhya

Devanagari script

भागीरथीं दुष्प्रतरामंशुधाने महानदीम्।

उपायाद्राघवस्तूर्णं प्राग्वटे विश्रुते पुरे।।2.71.9।।

Transliteration

bhāgīrathīṃ duṣpratarām aṃśudhāne mahānadīm |

upāyād rāghavas tūrṇaṃ prāgvaṭe viśrute pure || 2.71.9 ||

Translation

罗伽族后裔婆罗多（Bharata）迅速抵达闻名的普罗伽伐吒（Prāgvaṭa）城；并来到伟大的薄伽罗提河（Bhāgīrathī）前，那在名为安输陀那（Aṃśudhāna）的渡口处极难横渡。

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Word by Word

• भागीरथीम्: Bhāgīrathī (Ganga)
• भागीरथीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgīrathī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg)

• दुष्प्रतराम्: difficult to cross
• दुष्प्रतराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dus + pratarā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-समासवत्: दुष् + प्रतर (hard-to-cross); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg); 'भागीरथीम्' इति विशेषणम्

• अंशुधाने: at Aṃśudhāna
• अंशुधाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśudhāna (प्रातिपदिक; देशनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg)

• महानदीम्: the great river
• महानदीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + nadī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः: महती नदी; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc. sg); 'भागीरथीम्' इत्यस्य अपि विशेषणभावः

• उपायात्: reached/arrived
• उपायात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √yā (या धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• राघवः: Rāghava (Bharata)
• राघवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom. sg)

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūrṇam (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb): 'quickly'

• प्राग्वटे: at Prāgvaṭa
• प्राग्वटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāgvaṭa (प्रातिपदिक; नगरनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (स्थाननाम), सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg)

• विश्रुते: famous
• विश्रुते: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśruta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √śru श्रु (धातु))
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg); 'पुरे' इति विशेषणम्

• पुरे: in the city
• पुरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Loc. sg)

Context

Bharata, the descendant of Raghu, knowing that the mighty river Bhagirathi was difficult to cross at a place known as Anshudhana, quickly reached the famous city of Pragvata.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Rāghava (Raghu lineage)
• Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma here is expressed as promptness and responsibility in royal duty—Bharata moves swiftly, not indulgently, toward what must be faced.

What is the narrative situation?

Bharata is traveling toward Ayodhyā; he reaches Prāgvaṭa near the difficult crossing of the Bhāgīrathī at Aṃśudhāna.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Readiness and disciplined urgency (tūrṇatā) in fulfilling obligations.